Euro Comics: Reviews of Notes 1: Born to Be a Larve and California Dreamin’: Cass Elliot before The Mamas & the Papas

Time Codes: 00:00:30 - Introduction 00:03:21 - Listener mail! 00:05:50 - Translation news from Edward 00:11:49 - Notes 1: Born to Be a Larve 00:59:33 - California Dreamin': Cass Elliot before The Mamas and the Papas  01:32:13 - Wrap up 01:33:15 - Contact us   On this month's Euro Comics episode, Edward and Derek check out to recent publications, both from publishers that they've yet to discuss on the series. They begin with Boulet's Notes 1: Born to Be a Larve, just out from Soaring Penguin Press. This is the first collection of the comics Boulet created specifically for his blog, and this initial volume includes the entries published between July 2004 and July 2005. While the guys enjoy Boulet's work, they feel that the strips may not work as well in book form as they had originally on the blog. The episodic nature of the comics could probably be better appreciated as online updates than as a bound collection. Next, the guys turn to Pénélope Bagieu's latest English translation California Dreamin': Cass Elliot before The Mamas and the Papas (First Second). Derek and Andy W. had discussed Bagieu's earlier book, Exquisite Corpse, on an episode about two years ago, and the latest work certainly follows up on that promise. In fact, Edward is bowled away by this graphic biography. As the subtitle suggests, it covers the life of Cass Elliot -- born Ellen Cohen -- up to the breakout of the famous 1960s quartet. The guys appreciate Bagieu's art, but they are particularly impressed by her choices of narration and her structuring of the story.